Johnston Canyon Lower and Upper Falls
Improvement District No. 9, Alberta
Details
Distance
3.31 miles
Elevation Gain
692 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Description
Added by Sachith Siriwardane
The hike to Johnston Canyon Lower and Upper Falls is an easy 2.6km hike (one-way) that winds along a beautiful river in Johnston Canyon. Seven sets of waterfalls, cliff-side catwalks, and limestone caves await you on this amazing hike.
Getting There:
The Canyon is very well marked, but here are directions anyway if you're coming from Banff: Head West on the Trans-Canada Highway for about 5 km or so. Take the Bow Valley Parkway exit, and continue West for another 18km - you'll then see signs to your right for Johnston Canyon.
The Hike:
Johnston Canyon is very well marked, as it is a popular tourist spot. From the parking lot, you should have no problem finding the trailhead. For the hike, you have two options: You can go to the lower falls, which takes about 30 mins (1.1km), or go to the upper falls, which takes about an hour (2.6km). I'd highly recommend going to upper falls, it's only an extra half an hour and the view is totally worth it. The hike itself is relatively easy. A majority of it is along a boardwalk that winds through the canyon following the river. The sections that go through the forest are only a slight incline, and very manageable. There are seven sets of waterfalls in the canyon, but you'll know when you reach the main attraction. As you get to the end of the trail, you'll have a few viewpoint options: there's a path that goes to the base of the falls, and another that takes you to the top of it. I'd check out both if you have time. Along the way, there are a few places where you can go off the path and get a little closer to the river, so check those out - just be careful, especially if it's recently rained.
What I wish I knew:
- This place is a little more popular than I expected. Beat the crowds by going early, or closer to closing
- Explore all the pathways. If I could go back and do it again, I would check them all out because some people got some cool pictures I missed out on.
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Johnston Canyon Lower and Upper Falls Reviews
This is a popular hike and sections are a little hard to pass people since it’s an out and back trail. That being said, I’d absolutely go again! It was one of my favorite hikes and I wish I had more time to explore and enjoy it. The walkways connected to the side of the rocks were really cool and different from other hikes I’ve done
5.0
Nice, easy, paved hike right along the river. We went to both the upper & lower falls. It was a little bit crowded, but we were able to get a parking spot in the lot. We didn’t continue on to the ink pots, since we were short on time. The side trails to the “secret cave” were roped off.
5.0
Beautiful trail/falls! This is a VERY popular area so go early to avoid crowds. The guided path takes you along the river to both of the falls and it’s very easy for all ages. There’s a natural cave you can walk through to get really close to Lower Falls to make this place even more special.
5.0
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
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